IMPHAL, Jul 4: The violent conflict which took place between two communities at Nungei, Thoubal following a series of unwanted incidents in the area have been settled amicably with the intervention of the State Government. A joint meeting of the two confronting groups was convened at the Chief Minister’s office this evening and the two sides came to an agreement with neither sides putting up any condition.
Apart from Chief Minister O Ibobi, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Fisheries Minister Abdul Nasir, Chief Secretary O Nabakishore, DGP LM Khaute, representatives of the JAC Against the Cruel Firing at Nungei Meira Paibi and the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Md Arif Khan were present at the meeting. Briefing media persons after the meeting, Ibobi stated that a series of unwanted incidents took place during the last couple of months between Mayang Imphal and Lilong Nungei. Casualties were inflicted on many people when some unidentified persons opened fire towards Meira Paibis of Nungei. A young boy named Md Arif Khan was killed in firing some days back.
These incidents bred distrust between two commu- nities and it has been reported how a group of people left their homesteads and took shelter at Lilong Chajing. The Government is not blind to the people’s demand for opening a security outpost at Lilong Nungei. Seeking security forces for protection and deployment of security forces is not the best option. Mutual respect and harmony are the best routes for ensuring peaceful co-existence among different communities, Ibobi asserted.
This does not mean the Government has been shirking away from its responsi- bility. The Government has been making arrangements to open a security outpost at a place agreeable to both the parties, continued the Chief Minister. “The Government is very happy to see that both the groups agreed to forget the past hatchets and come to a mutual understanding”, Ibobi remarked.
“We are all Manipuris and there is no difference among Meiteis, Pangals and hill people and I would like to appeal to all the people staying at the relief camp of Lilong Chajing to go back to their homes”, Ibobi added.
